Nasher

Wow. Sorry, but I reckon there's something a little bit sad about holding a 61 year grudge over a missed premiership, especially during such a successful period. The only team I have enough energy to hate on an ongoing basis is Essendon, and that's only because they keep giving me new reasons to hate them.

Please tell me you aren't talking about 1954.

I'm doing my best to forget it. What it's done to me is make me get sadistic pleasure when other teams suffer.

I read it as a backhander.

Roos' "tagger" this year was Jack Viney, then Bernie Vince - fundamentally aggressive, attacking players. I don't think there's room in this side for a purely defensive midfielder, so I think if McKenzie is in it's as an inside mid, or to play Kent's role as the defensive forward. Pretty hard to say who the second 'in' will be (Grimes as the first is a given IMO). No player sticks out to sustain the hardness in the forward line that Kent offered. He will be missed I think.

Thanks - I obviously hadn't considered this angle.

Seems awfully soon - 7 months after pulling the pin. Sounds to me as if the guy doesn't know what he wants. I can't see him on an AFL list next year, needs a year or two to demonstrate the desire now that he's already thrown it away once I would think.

Jeez that's unfair. You've essentially already blamed him for the loss before he's even been picked. It never ceases to surprise me how much focus people put on the least important members of our side. The performance of the 22nd player in the side is not the going to be the difference between us having a chance or not. If Jordie is picked and plays out of his skin for a career best performance, does that mean we'll win?

Got to love it when MFC and Casey both play on Sunday - 13 man interchange. And obviously at least two of those players won't play due to being selected in the MFC side. Hope Neal-Bullen gets a run. It would be a shame (for me, because I'm impatient) if his momentum got broken purely because the development league has a bye.

The last two games he has only spent 75-76% of time time on the ground for 19 poessessions both games - on a "possession rate" basis that is as good as anyone, but it's low TOG numbers. Against Richmond, only Brayshaw, Michie, Kent and Jetta spent less time on the ground - a baby, the sub and two players injured early. To me that points to a question about tank, not a question about finding the ball. Or just a question of seniority - he's being asked to play as a second string midfielder perhaps.

Can't say my nerves are any better for it. At the moment I'm still waiting for the capitulation, but that is slowly fading.

Fair enough. In that context, I agree.

Ah, the old "I don't remember saying that" defence. Just enough denial to avoid owning up to your own actions, but can still claim you didn't lie about it when it's proven you did say it. The ultimate weasle words.

Best of luck.

It's really not - there are a lot of ways to "do a hammy" and it would seem Kent suffered one of the worst ways. I'm really disappointed for the guy. He's been pretty unlucky in his attempts to string together a good run of footy. 10-12 sounds like forever.

Thanks for that - I already thought he stood up before I knew that he wasn't participating in the rotations. Gutsy. I know it's been asked before, but what's your connection with Viv?

I just got home and turned the TV on. I am assuming I entered some sort of alternate universe on my 45 min drive home somehow, because Hawthorn appear to be down by 51 points at half time.

I got sick of people spelling it with an 'o' in it, so I put it in to the word censor. I thought this was a nice subtle way of helping people.

Close. Guess again.

Favourite Tom Mc moment: Last quarter, Jack Riewoldt goes on a long lead. (TV camera kindly pans out so I can see what's happening for once.) McDonald chases him as far as the 50, then turns around and runs back as if to say "fine, get it up there as much as you want". Ball ends up in the midfield and kicks it... straight to where TMac has formed a 2 on 1 against the only Richmond forward. Could see it coming from a mile off. He recognized in an instant that he'd lost the first contest and instead prepared for the contest that came two disposals later. Loved it

Michie was close to our best mid after Jones in the second half I thought, just seemed to be in everything. He was clearly playing with confidence. Van Demon!

He's been Panced so far. I know. Groan.

Really feel for Drummond. First game. Looked absolutely awful.

The combined banner capped off an amazing ceremony. Like dazz, I got goosebumps. Proud of both clubs for the amazing display. Now make with the winning!

This is the relevant figure - % of salary cap. Without it you can't compare how much a player is earning relative to others, which is the thing that matters. The fact that 650k sounds like a lot of money (and it is, if you're comparing it to your own income) is irrelevant. I reckon too many people get stars in their eyes when looking at player salaries.